Mounting and decorative means for panels, panes, and the like



April 24, 195i n.. c. SMITH 2,550,305

\ MOUNTING AND DECORATIVE MEANS FR PANELS, PANEs, AND THE LIKE Filed April 26, 1947 j@ f. f@

f ,Q 9 I l 2 2 L @if Patented Apr. 24, 1951 MOUNTING AND DECORATIV MEANS FOR PANELS, PANES, AND THE LIKE y f Lorne C. Smith, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 26, 1947, Serial No. 744,259

7 Claims.

This invention relates to mounting and decorative means for panels, panes and the like; and more particularly to such means providing for the use of a face strip comprising a plurality of `short sections.

In* mounting panels, panes and the like, as for example the glass pane in a display window, in a support such as a window frame, it is often desirable to provide a face strip around the edge of the pane. My improved face strip is particularly adapted to be utilized as a decorative member as well as a portion of the mounting means, and may have an ornamental design, a name, etc., on its face.

In my earlier patents, as for example Patents 1,873,349 and. 1,873,350 issued August 23, 1932', I have disclosed a means for mounting such a pane, panel or other member of sheet material in a support or frame, this mounting means including a face strip on the front side of the sheet member. Such mounting means also generally includes one or more members for engaging the face of the sheet member and means for securing said members in clamping relation to the sheet. Since \mounting means of this type are often used to mount relatively large panes or panels, it has been the practice in the past to produce the sheet engaging members and the face strip in long sections, as for example sections 15 to 18 feet in length. Such long sections have been objectionable in that they are diicult to handle and uneconomical to ship from place to place. In addition, in utilizing such sections, particularly sections of the face strip, where a neat and ornamental appearance is desired there has been much waste in material encountered, for after cutting the long sections to the outside dimensions of the sheet member, it often happens that there are several pieces of substantial length left over. Since it has been undesirable from a decorative standpoint to piece these face strip sections, and since the sections are often too short to be used in a single piece, much of this material has been wasted in the past. This waste has been particularly objectionable since the face strip is usually relatively expensive.

In addition it is impractical to mold or diecast a 15 to 18 foot section of face strip material, and as a consequence in the past these sections have been rolled. This method of manufacture places a substantial limitation upon the ornamentation which may be placed upon such members since.. it is impractical to roll many decorative designs and it is impossible to roll embossed designs, names, etc,

I have provided and am here disclosing and claiming mounting and decorative means of this type wherein I provide face strip members each having a short length, and I construct the ends of each face strip member to permit unobvious abutment with other strip members. Several advantages stem from this construction. In the first place the waste in utilizing the relatively expensive face strip vis cut down to an almost negligible amountyin the second place the short face strip sections are easily handled and may be easily and economically shipped from place to place; and in the third place such short face strip members may be molded or die-cast with any type of design thereon,l as for example an embossed pattern or a name. I prefer `to construct the ends of each face strip member with an overlapping joint which follows the design on the member so that when the members are assembled in abutment with each other the joint may be entirely concealed from view, giving the appearance of a single piece face strip.`

Furthermore, I provide a locking means so that the face strip members may be easily assembled, particularly around the sides and top of `the panel, pane or other sheet member. I also pro'- vide an inside molding strip of greater length than 'each of the face strip members, this molding strip serving to secure the strip members in place. The construction of this type of molding strip is such that it may be coiled when it is shipped, thereby obviating the shipping problems mentioned heretofore.

Other features and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following Specification and the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a portion of a sheet member mounted in a support including mounting and decorative means comprising my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section through the structure of Fig. 1 along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an extended horizontal section along the' line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a partly sectional elevation of the top retaining mold forming a part of my invention; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentarysection through `the ornamental face strip member taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawings, a sheet member l0, which is illustrated as comprising a glass pane, but which might comprise a panel, as for example a display panel, or any similar member of sheet material, is shown mounted in a support II. While this support is illustrated as comprising a window sill or frame having a base portion I Ia and a rear portion IIb, it will be understood that any supporting structure within which the sheet member Il) may be mounted is envisioned within tlievscqpegof .myinvention Means .are provided for securing the `sheet member to the support, these means being-shown most clearly in Fig. 2 and comprising a rst clamping member I2 adapted to engage one side of the sheet member IIL-anda secondfclamping member I3 having a portion adaptedA to engage the other side of the said sheet. Therm may be in the form of a long strip, and has a rear vertical portion I2a (as the parts-appear inilT-igure 2) which abuts against the support member ,-iflb and may be secured to-said support member if .desired by screwsor other means not shown. .The `top ofthe clamping member I2 extends `forwardly andupwardly at IZb'and engagesone side of the sheet member i8, whilethebottom of the clamping Amember Y'I2 extends underneath and `forwardly of ythe sheet member, Aand .terminates .in an vupwardly overturned ange 12e. A channel vI2djis formed 'in jthe member YI2 .and Yinto this channel a cushion member `I4 is positioned to providea base support for the 'sheet'member I5.

The second clamping Ymember ,13 comprises a Aclip Vwhich is preferably .about inches wide, and has4 a sheet engagingportion i3d. 'On either ,side ofthe ,portion Yl3nt the clip isiprovided with an outwardly turned liiange 13b which is spaced from-the ,face of the sheet member, each of .said angeshavinga projecting lug 1,313 cnthe rear sidethereof. A nut1l5'is secured tothe clamping member 12, as ,by welding or otherwise, and a .stud `I extends through Lthe clamping Amember 'L3 and is threaded intosaid nut [in order to secure the lclamping members in clamping relation to lsaid sheet member. `Ipreferto v provide the second clamping members or clips 'I3 :at about l0 inch intervals along the .edges of Athe sheet Amember.

YAplurality of shortface strip members, as the `members I'Ia and vI'Ib, are provided, these mem- 'bers being constructed in accordance with my im/'ention in-shortsectionspreferably though not necessarilyeach `approximately 2;fee.t long. Short members of sucha size are easily handled, economically shipped, and maybe used in mounting a sheet member and makingithe necessary cuts at the corners -of Asucio a member with a very minimum of waste. In addition, .short members as provided by-myinvention may be molded or diecast rather vthan rolled, and when manufactured vin this manner `the members may be provided with ornamentation 'in the form of an embossed design, a name, or numerous other designs which are impossible to provide when .the face strip .members are `manufacifiu-ed by a vrolling process. As'illustrated in the drawings the face strip .t 'i is provided with a raised ornamental design 'il' in the form of a plurality of .elipses, sometimes termed an egg and dart design, a design of this nature being impossible to -produce by a rolling process of manufacture.

The ends of eachof the shortface strip members are constructed to ,permit unobvious abutment with other strip members, the construction being illustrated in Fig. 6 and preferably com prising an overlapping joint 18. I ,prefer that this ljoint be constructed to follow the ornamental design I1' on the face strip member, and with .outer edge is folded back .at I'lb, to form a channelwliich :cooperatesiwith the overturned .flange I2C formed in the forward edge oi the clamping member i2 so that the outside edge of the strip members may be locked to the clamping member fas the apparatus is;.assembled, and the inner edge terminates-ina vertical iiange lib.

rlhe terms f outsde vedge and inside edge as applied to said strip members are used to indicate the loca- !tionrofrtheseuedges with reference to the sheet member II! when the apparatus is assembled. Thus as shown in Fig. 2 the outside edge I'ih and the inside edge Ilb are located in respective outside Aan'dfinside arrangement lwhen the sheet A lparticularLad-vantage of providinga lock 'be- "tween the outsideedge of the 'face strip members and the clamping member is that such construction results in Imuch ygreater ease o'f assembly, particularly in Vlassembling *the mounting means xaround the vertical sides and the top portion of the sheet member.

-Anfinside molding 20 comprising a channelshaped ^member of substantially .greater Alength lt-han each of said 'face strip members is also provided, the term inside again `being intended to indicate the location-of this -molding with reference to the-edgesofthe-sheet member IB when nthe parts lare assembled. The inside'molding 20 is-'o'i `such construction that it may readily be lcoiledwhen i't isshipped, and consequently rather than constructing such molding in short lengths, JYJI prefer tovprovide -such molding in continuous -pieces'of substantially greater length than each of the 'face strip members. One wall of the channel formed 'bythe molding has notches 20a cut finto it, said notches being adapted ito cooperate Awith the sheet engaging-portion -I3a of --the secvond clamping member I3, the wall 'of the chan- Ynel which has -such notchesin it fbeing'adapted to Vbe finsertedibetween the flanges I`3b fof said second clamping member and the face 'of the sheet member Il). The channel wall is also provided with 'detents Zlib adapted to cooperate with the lugs l3b to frictionally hold the top molding 20 in'engagement with the outwardly turned flanges I3-b of the clamping member 13. The opposite Vvchannel wall of the vmember :Z0-engages the vertically flanged inside edge 'Ib" of the face strip members and fastens said strip -members to the member I3.

In assembling my apparatus, the first clamping member I2 is mounted on the frame or support I I for the sheet member, said clamping member being preferably screwed or otherwise fastened to said support. The sheet member I0 is lthen placed `in position, being cushioned along its outeredges-on the member I4, and the second clamping members I3 are then `placed in position and-sf-icured in clamping relationship to said sheet by means of the stud I 6. The Yface strip `members I'I are then placed in position, the locking-engagement between the'outside edge of said .members and the flange I2c on the forwardly projecting edge of the clamping member I2 preventing the strip members from falling vout of position, particularly on the vertical sides and the top portion of the frame structure. The overlapping jointsv I8 between each of the face strip members provide an unobvious abutment which gives the appearance of a continuous face strip throughout the length of each side of the sheet member. Finally, the inside molding 20, which is of substantially greater length than each 'of the face strip members and preferably extends in one continuous piecethe entire length of each side of the panel, is snapped into place, the notches Za cooperating with the sheet engaging portions i3d, and the detents 20h in the wall of the channel engaging the projecting lugs I3b in the clamping memberI3 to frictionally hold the parts together. Inasmuch as each face member is locked at its outside edge to the clamping member IZ and is fastened at its inside edge to the clamping member I3 by means of the inside molding 20, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, the apparatus will be held securely in place, and because of the concealed joints I8 and the presence of the continuous molding at the point where the joints would otherwise be most visible, the face members will give the appearance of a continuous face strip.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the character described for mounting a sheet member in a support; including: means for securing said sheet member to said supe port; a plurality of short face strip members each having its ends constructed to permit unob vious abutment with other strip members; and a molding of substantially greater length than each of said strip members, said molding providing means for positively locking said strip members to said first mentioned means.

2. Apparatus of the character described for mounting a sheet member in a support, including: means for securing said sheet member to said support; a plurality of short face strip members, each having its ends constructed to permit abutment with other strip members to form an unobvious overlapping joint between said members; and a molding adapted to cooperate with said securing means and strip members said molding forming the sole fastening means along one side of the strip members to fasten that side of the strip members to the securing means, said molding comprising a continuous piece of substantially greater length than each of said strip mem bers.

3. Apparatus of the character described for mounting a sheet member in a support, including: a first clamping member adapted in normal use to engage one side of said sheet; a second clamping member having a portion adapted in normal use to engage the other side of said sheet and a portion spaced from said sheet; means for securing said members in clamping relation to said sheet; a plurality of short face strip members, each having its ends constructed to permit unobvious abutment with other strip members; and an inside molding of substantially greater length than each of said strip members, said molding being adapted to cooperate with said spaced por tion and sheet engaging portion to fasten said strip members positively to said second clamping member.

4;. Apparatus of the character described for 6 mounting a sheet member in a support, including: a rst clamping member adapted to engage one side of said sheet; a second clamping member having a portion adapted to engage the other side of a said sheet and a flange spaced from said sheet and extending parallel thereto; means for securing said members in clamping engagement with said sheet; a plurality of short face strip members, each having its ends constructed to permit unobvious abutment with other strip mem- `bers; an inside molding comprising a continuous channel-shaped member of substantially greater length than each of said strip members, a portion of said inside molding being adapted to be inserted between said iiange and sheet to fasten said strip members to said second clamping member; and means for holding said inside molding in engagement with said flange near the outer edge thereof.

5. Apparatus of the character described for mounting a sheet member Iin a support, including: a first clamping member adapted in normal use to be secured to said support and to engage one side ofsaid sheet; a second clamping member having a portion adapted in normal use to engage the other side of said sheet and a flange spaced from said sheet and extending parallel thereto; means for securing said members in clamping engagement with said sheet; a plurality of short, ornamented face strip members, each strip member having its ends constructed to permit abutment with other strip members to form an unobvious overlapping joint between said members, said joint following said ornamentation; an inside molding comprising a continuous channel-shaped member of substantially greater length than each of said strip members, one wall of said molding having a notch therein adapted to cooperate with the sheet engaging portion of said second clamping member, said Wall having the notch being adapted to be inserted between said flange and sheet to fasten said strip members to said second clamping member; and means comprising a lug and a detent for frictionally holding said inside molding in engagement .with said flange.

6. Apparatus of the character described for mounting a sheet member in a support, including: a first clamping member adapted to engage one side of said sheet; a second clamping member adapted to engage the other side of said sheet; means for securing said members in clamping engagement with said sheet; a plurality of short face stripmembers each having its ends constructed to permit unobvious abutment with other strip members; an inside molding of substantially greater length than each of said stripv members, said inside molding being adapted to fasten the inside edge of said strip members to one of said clamping members, and said strip members and one of said clamping members having cooperating hooking portions for positively locking the outside edge of said strip members to said last mentioned clamping member.

7. Apparatus of the character described for mounting a sheet member in a support, including: a rst clamping member adapted in normal use to engage one side of said sheet; a second clamping member having a portion adapted in normal use to engage the other side of said sheet and a flange spaced from said sheet; means for securing said members in clamping engagement with said sheet; a plurality of short face strip members, each having its ends constructed to permit unobvious abutment with other strip members; an inside molding comprising a continuous 'channel-shaped member of substantially greater length than each of said strip members, a portion of said inside molding being adapted to be in- -serted between said flange and sheet to fasten lthe inside edge of said strip members to said second clamping member; means for holding said inside molding in engagement with said flange,

said strip members and said first clamping member having cooperating `hooking portions for posi 10 2,186,684 tively locking the outside edge of said strip members to said rst clamping member.

LORNE C. SMITH.

8 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,458,398 Currier June 12, 1923 1,154,871 Young et al July 14, 1925 1,994,464 Currier et al Mar. 19, 1935 Ritter Jan. 9, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 368,487 Germany 1923 

